Meet Our Current Team

Dr. Robin Panneton

Dr. Panneton graduated with a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1985. Under the supervision of Dr. Tony DeCasper, she studied fetal and newborn perception of sounds associated with the mother's voice during late human gestation. She went on to post-doctoral positions at the University of Rochester (Dr. Dick Aslin) and the Rose F. Kennedy Center (Dr. Diane Kurtzberg) before joining the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech in 1989.

Dr. Vanessa Diaz

Dr. Diaz graduated with a Ph.D. and Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of Florida. Vanessa completed concentrations in Neuroscience and Methodology, while focusing her research on bilingualism. Vanessa obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University in Miami, where she obtained a minor in French Language and Culture, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Madeline Netto

Madeline graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and in Applied Linguistics. She joined the iLEAP lab at Virginia Tech in 2022. She is interested in all things language-related, including learning many languages herself!

Jaren Vessels

Jaren Vessels is an undergraduate research assistant in the lab, joining the team for a summer internship from Berea College. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, where he serves as a Teaching Assistant, and has developed strong foundational experience in methodology and statistical analysis using appropriate software. Jaren plans to pursue graduate studies in school psychology to support students' developmental and educational success.

​Sareena Bhimani

Sareena is a rising senior at Berea College, where I am pursuing a double major in Psychology and Child & Family Studies. I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. My ultimate career goal is to conduct research as a Pediatric Clinical Psychologist, implementing evidence-based interventions to support children and families, and focus on clinical therapy dedicated to youth populations.

Eva Early

Eva graduated in May 2026 with a B.S. Human Development and Family Science degree and was admitted to the Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the Medical University of South Carolina beginning Fall 2026 - Congratulations,  Eva!!!

Laney Fitzgerald

Laney is a junior at Virginia Tech from Richmond, VA, double-majoring in Communication and Psychology. She plans to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology and is especially interested in working in pediatrics to help young children develop strong communication skills. As a new member of the iLEAP Lab, she is excited to be a part of the team.

Samantha Seibert

Samantha is a junior at Virginia Tech from Richmond, Virginia, majoring in Psychology with minors in Adaptive Brain and Behavior and Language Sciences. As an aspiring Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, her goal is to help children find their voices, build confidence, and reach their full potential. She is very excited to begin as a new member of the iLEAP Lab.

Anna Cook

Anna graduated in May 2026 with a B.S. Psychology degree. In Fall 2026, she will pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and working with children and families - Congratualtions, Anna!!

Kennedy Malcolm

Kennedy graduated in May 2026 with a B.S. Psychology degree, with minors in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her academic interests center on developmental and social psychology, particularly how individuals grow and interact within broader social contexts. After graduation, she plans to pursue a post-baccalaureate lab manager position before continuing on to graduate study in psychology - Congratulations, Kennedy!!!

Annam Nguyen

Annam graduated in May 2026 with a B.S. Psychology degree. He is especially interested in the areas of cognition and linguistics, and was excited to join the iLEAP Lab to explore the connection between these domains from a young age. He intends to attend law school so he can pursue a legal career that further dives into the nuances of the human experience - Congratulations, Annam!!!